Long, cold, and snowy winter days take a toll on many seniors and can aggravate physical conditions. When it’s too cold to go outside and your bones and joints ache when you do, it’s downright unpleasant to go outdoors. The potential for encountering icy walkways that pose a danger of slip-and-fall accidents and injuries makes it even worse to go outside.
The solution is to seek warm weather, which generally means going south or out west. If you are itching to be a snowbird and fly to warmer climes during the winter months for a short or extended visit, here are some great options that Claudette Schwartz says can help you stay active and enjoy spending time outside.
Enjoy a Lengthy and Leisurely Cruise
A cruise trip is a terrific way to enjoy warm weather and sunny skies while visiting exotic locales. A cruise trip in the Caribbean can take you to many terrific warm-weather destinations while enjoying the relative warmth of the tropics. You also might consider a cruise to the Mediterranean and other warm-weather locales.
The best part of wintertime cruises in warm locales is that you don’t have to worry about tropical storms. The cooler waters during the winter months make virtually nullify the chances of a storm disrupting your fun. Staying aboard a cruise ship also makes it easier to get around for food, entertainment, and onboard activities while cruising between ports of call. Many cruise lines offer accommodations and cruises for seniors to ensure they have the best possible experience.
Visit Las Vegas for Food, Fun, and National Parks
Las Vegas undergoes constant change, and its most recent change is the move toward events that draw visitors. Gambling will always remain a significant draw for Las Vegas, but you don’t have to spend your free time on the casino floor. Instead, you can rent a car and use it for day trips to nearby state and national parks. Access to some of the nation’s best national parks is something that many Las Vegas visitors overlook, but you don’t have to make that same mistake.
You can take day trips to Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Joshua Tree, and the most popular of all – the Grand Canyon. You can enjoy a leisurely trip, dine at local restaurants, and take in the stunning sights that make national parks priceless. You also can visit the Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area during the best months of the year for being outside in the Desert Southwest.
Other Great Wintertime Destinations
Depending on where you live, you don’t have to travel far to enjoy great warm weather travel during the winter. Nashville is a terrific destination that doesn’t have extended cold spells during the winter months while offering great recreational activities in Music City USA. Those who go to Florida for the winter months should consider a drive to the Florida Keys. Anyone out west might consider Palm Springs or Santa Fe, too.
